Twisted Wish

by Brenda Nighthawk

Leo’s holiday season is already hell. He’s a cynical college dropout in an itchy elf costume, counting the seconds until he can escape the forced cheer of the mall. But his miserable routine is shattered by the arrival of a new Santa Claus, a performer so perfect, he feels ancient. And when he smiles, his eyes don’t.

A little girl’s wish for her sick grandmother is met with a flicker of predatory contempt, confirming Leo’s deepest fears. Soon, the wishes of innocent children are being twisted into grotesque realities, and Leo uncovers a terrible secret hidden within Santa's throne. He isn't just a man in a suit; he's a collector, and hope is his currency.

When a freak blizzard traps them all inside, the mall becomes a hunting ground patrolled by demonic decorations. Leo, the one person who sees the truth, is dismissed as a lunatic. To save the handful of survivors and stop the entity from claiming its ultimate prize, he must do the become the elf who proves to everyone that Santa isn't real.

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2025

Reviews

[Syn Daye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Leo believes he has hit rock bottom with his current job as a mall elf. Poor Leo. He is so very wrong.

In this twisted mind f*ck of a Christmas story, Leo discoveres the truth behind Santa's magic. This twisted, evil Santa does indeed grant all the children's wishes...with a twist.

A sudden blizzard traps everyone in the mall and things start to go sideways. How can no one else see what is happening? Leo is torn between having seen to much and wanting to stop the mayhem.

Brenda Nighthawk has yet again given us a psychological horror that pushes you, and her characters, right to the edge of their sanity.

This is very well written and extremely descriptive. I could almost hear the Christmas carols being played and smell the cinnamon and pine scent in the air.

The story pulls you in and wraps you in the chaotic mall life that is Christmas time.

[Ashley Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, first Holiday book I've ever read. This was a amazing read. I love the horror mixed with Christmas. Wonderful Rollercoaster of surprises of terror and horror. The ending I for sure wasnt expecting at all. If I say too much I will give away spoilers, but you enjoy horror with Christmas. You gotta give this a read for sure!.

[Skwurl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Wish offers a fresh, compelling spin on holiday horror. The premise grabbed me instantly, an exhausted college dropout stuck in an elf costume, a “blizzard: that traps him overnight, and a mysterious ledger where Christmas wishes twist into something dark and evil. It’s one of those concepts where you immediately think, "Oh wow, this could go in so many creepy directions," and the book fully delivers on that potential.

The atmosphere is a major strength. What starts as a cozy holiday setting slowly unravels, layer by layer, until the dread fully settles in. The tension ramps up quickly, creating a gripping sense of unease. Leo’s voice adds real depth, he’s sarcastic, worn out, and trying to hold it together as the weirdness escalates. It all feels distinctive, eerie, and fun.

It’s a quick, engrossing read, and I had a blast with it. If you're into festive horror, supernatural twists, or stories where Christmas magic veers into the realm of evil, this is definitely one to check out. A strong start to a series brimming with creative potential, I’m excited to see where it goes next.

[Gemma Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book written by Brenda Nighthawk and she does not come across as a baby author.

What is the one thing we want when we went to see Santa, we wanted to give him our wishes, the one thing we really wanted. The magical thought that our wishes would come true but this story takes a twist and it is one of a dark nature. This Santa is not the fairy tale we all know, he is something darker, something ancient, he takes our holidays to be what he needs to be. This time around he is Santa, the face that all trusts, but hidden in the depths of his soul is something feeding on those wishes. What you wish is for is granted but is twisted in away that feeds his inner soul.

Brenda takes us on this dark journey of this being and the depravity and control that it has on a favourite holiday, those decorations that looked lovely to the toy soldiers that look entrancing become the thing of nightmares. Brenda’s writing style is image and thought evoking as she tells the story draws us in as if we are there as it happens.

If you like things twisted, dark and a horror story then you need to check this out.

[Lian Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want something with a festive twist? Then this book is for you!!

A dark, twisted, addictive Christmas novella. This is the perfect quick read that keeps with the festive season. I absolutely love the MMC and his whole attitude he gives towards work and the festive season generally. I literally giggled and had many funny looks while out... but so worth it!!

This is just what i needed a dark but not to heavy. This will be on my top five novellas for a while and cannot wait to read again over the festive season.

Would highly recommend to anyone who loves dark romance with festive cheer, or something different from the cutesy Christmas contemporary reads.

[chesirern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted Wish by Brenda NightHawk is book 1 in the Twisted Harvest Series. A holiday horror novella centered around Santa Claus. This story gives a tale about an ancient evil that takes the wishes that we make and turns them around on us. When children and even adults go to him and make their wishes, even good hearted ones not greedy ones, he feeds his soul and twists them up.

Leo is Santa’s helper in the mall. A sudden blizzard has trapped many people there and he is witness to the true tale as wishes are made and they all go twisty. It is a terror filled Christmas.

I definitely enjoyed this tale!

[Jessica Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a doozy to start the month of February with but here we are. Leo is a college dropout and stuck in hell, well an elf costume but pretty much the same thing, right? His world is about to change when a new Santa comes to town but there’s something off about this one. Leo is starting to catch on when one Christmas wish seems to turn into a reality and when a blizzard traps them inside the mall all bets are off. This was a crazy horror twist to a Christmas story that I was not expecting but i was very slightly intrigued and the “hunting” aspect kept me turning the pages with so much aggression and anticipation needing to see what happens. I will probably never look at Santa the same again.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who said being a mall elf for Santa would be bad... Well for Leo it definitely wasn't what he signed up for. In this dark and twisted psychological thriller brought to you by Brenda Nighthawk, you get to see just how wrong Leo was. She puts the best twist on the great ol' Saint Nick and poor Leo gets to witness it firsthand. And as someone who absolutely hates Christmas, I am so here for this dark and twisted tale! Definitely sucks you in and keeps you guessing with all the delightfully grotesque things...

[Sarah Seelbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blends horror with the Christmas spirit! Meet Leo, an elf who witnesses things he really shouldn't. From beginning to end, this tale keeps you on the edge of your seat! The mall Santa isn’t your typical festive figure; he has his own sinister agenda. Leo confronts sheer terror and must battle it on his own. It's a chilling and imaginative twist on holiday horror! If you enjoy Christmas stories that have a horror element, this book is perfect for you! Be sure to check out TWS if you're interested in reading.

[darkshadowreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid read with good momentum and an intriguing setup.

The ending felt slightly rushed, likely due to this being the first book in a series. Even so, it successfully introduces the characters and overall direction of the story.
I’m interested in continuing with book two.

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[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if Santa wasn’t granting wishes, but twisting them for something darker? That’s exactly what Leo uncovers while working as an elf at the mall. The story starts with an uneasy feeling that something isn’t quite right, and quickly spirals into a nightmare no one believes is real. Trapped with the monster born of holiday spirit, Leo faces pure terror and has to fight it alone. This was a chilling, creative twist on Christmas horror!

[Liz Ranne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this! She's a new to me author & this is Leo's story. He's working as an elf in the mall for Christmas & the Santa? He has evil secrets. Leo is unfortunately seeing things he shouldn't & he realizes that things aren't right with this Santa. He does grant wishes, but with a twist & Leo is caught up in it all. He finds out the secret & it puts him immediately in danger. This was a great novella, the atmosphere & all the things that happen there. I recommend this novella & author!

[Heather Lachelle Fulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vicious twist on holiday cheer, this story turns the mall Santa myth into pure nightmare fuel. Leo, a burned-out elf, is the only one who sees the truth as children’s wishes become grotesque and Santa reveals himself as a collector feeding on hope. The blizzard-trapped mall and demonic decorations crank up the claustrophobic horror fast. Dark, cruel, and wildly creative—perfect for readers who like their Christmas stories bloody and bleak. 🎄🩸

[Kendi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leo is a college dropout. He is an elf for Santa at the mall. There is a blizzard outside and that is when things go down an ugly path. There seems to be a magical side of Santa that is not the “magic” that we want to believe. Santa is out for some hunting. Leo is out to try to save those. The twist at the end had my head spinning. This was a good short novella.

[Delilah Amos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly Twisted

Oh poor Leo stuck in a going no where holiday job. Bussing kids over to Santa for them to share their Christmas wishes. Wishing for more in his life only to find out that Santa is more than some jolly guy who grants kids wishes of gifts. He finds himself in a terrifying situation where he becomes the monster who crushes beliefs.

[Momma Murder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Brenda's 2nd book and it was ahh-mazing!! I LOVED it. 💜

Christmas horror at it's finest. 🎅🏻🩸

Santa is cruel and brutal and the toys were gruesomely put together.

Leo was awesome and the ending.. Excellent! And I want more!! 🤣🔥

[Micki-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo is working as a mall elf and is seeing things he shouldn't, he realizes that things aren't right with this Santa.

Come discover the sick twisted evil truth behind Santa’s magic in this mind fuck of a holiday horror novella it’s full of terror, horror and a surprise of two.

[Jane Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas wishes?

Wow! What a rollercoaster! Brenda Nighthawk killed it with this storyline! My heart is still pounding as I type this review. Leo was weak and depressed but became a force to be reckoned with! Christmas wishes hold a brand new meaning now.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a Christmas I'll never forget this was the perfect horror Christmas book the gore in here was top tier this was the perfect horror o definitely scared 😰 can't to find out what happens next

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went in mostly blind to this. Was an interesting take on a mall Santa and wild. Can't wait to see what happens next. Kept me intrigued from the start. Short and quick, was worth the read

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was truly a suspenseful and horror novel of Christmas. It was enjoyable to have something different when come to the sweet jolly old man for Santa.

[Mickyla Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted Wish is exactly like it sounds. the entity takes your deepest Wish and twists it into something unimaginable! I loved this book because it brings your imagination to life, and makes you question what could happen next and how will a Wish be twisted.

Brenda knows how to describe things where you can visualize everything that is happening. You can fill the fear and utter turmoil that happens with Leo as he discovers who and what the entity is.

This book is for all of the horror lovers out there, for all of the people who love the unknown and want to embrace there inner fear. Welcome to Twisted wish....let's hope all your hopes and dreams don't come true.